For Immediate Release
Monday, October 3, 2016
Contact: Meredith Beatrice,
850.245.6522
Secretary Detzner Announces Open House Events Celebrating American Archives Month
Tallahassee –
Florida Secretary of State Ken Detzner and the State Archives of Florida are pleased to announce two upcoming open house events on Tuesday, October 11 and Tuesday, October 18 in celebration of American Archives Month. Both events will include after-hours tours of the Archives’ records storage facility as well as staff-led workshops.
“We are pleased to offer these workshops to showcase the resources available from the State Archives and the importance of preserving documents significant to Florida’s history,” said Secretary Detzner. “This is a rare opportunity for the public to get an inside look at how the State Archives works and see some of the unique historical records that tell the story of Florida.”
Celebrated every October, American Archives Month is a national collaborative effort led by professional organizations and repositories throughout the country to highlight the enduring value of historical records, recognize the important contributions of professional archivists, and promote public awareness of available resources and information through archives.
Additionally, for the remainder of October 2016, and throughout 2017, the department is celebrating Preservation50, and initiative commemorating the 50th anniversary of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966. These workshops offered by the State Archives emphasize the importance of preserving historical documents for future generations.
OPEN HOUSE AND WORKSHOP DETAILS:
Normally open to the public on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., the State Archives of Florida will remain open until 8 p.m. on both October 11 and 18 with workshops beginning after 5 p.m. The extended hours are designed to give Floridians, especially those with busy workday schedules, an opportunity to explore the Archives’ extensive publicly accessible resources for researching and preserving local and family history.
Location:
The open house events will be held in the State Archives’ reference room on the second floor of the R.A. Gray Building at 500 S. Bronough Street in Tallahassee. The tours and workshops will also begin in this location. Free parking is available in parking lot “E” adjacent to the building. Please note that filming is not permitted in the Archives Records Storage area.
Dates:
Tuesday, October 11, 2016
“SAVE YOURSELVES! Basics of Preserving Your Family Papers, Books and Photos”
Beginning at 6 p.m.
In this workshop, Archives Supervisor Beth Golding will discuss the best practices for preserving your family papers, books and photos at home.
“Facilitating Family History Research at the State Archives of Florida”
Beginning at 7 p.m.
In this workshop, Reference Archivist Anya Grosenbaugh and Archives Historian Kathryn Palmer will explore various methods for researching your genealogy using the resources at the State Archives of Florida.
Tuesday, October 18, 2016
“A Site to Behold: Bringing Florida’s Historic Sites to Life with Archives”
Beginning at 6:30 p.m.
In this presentation, Johnathan Grandage, Executive Director of The Grove, will discuss how archival resources were used to preserve and interpret the history of an antebellum home in Florida.
Media interested in attending the open house and interview opportunities should contact the Department of State’s communications office at [email protected] or 850.245.6522.
Members of the public looking for more information on the events should contact the State Archives of Florida reference desk at [email protected], 850.245.6719, or visit archivesflorida.com/archivesmonth.
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About the State Archives of Florida:
The State Archives of Florida is the central repository for the historic government records of the Sunshine State. It also holds a variety of private manuscripts, local government records, photographs, and other historically significant materials relating to Florida. The Archives is statutorily tasked with preserving these historical records and making them available to the public. To learn more, visit info.florida.gov or contact the Archives’ reference staff at 850.245.6719. The State Archives of Florida is a component of the Florida Department of State, Division of Library and Information Services.
About Preservation50:
Preservation50 is a national initiative celebrating the fiftieth anniversary of the signing of the National Historic Preservation Act in 1966. The Act laid the groundwork for programs and procedural protections that are fundamental to preservation efforts. These include the National Register of Historic Places, Certified Local Governments, Section 106 Review Process, the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation and the Historic Preservation Fund. The Act also established state and tribal historic preservation programs, with Historic Preservation Officers who serve in each state to preserve our nation’s cultural and historic resources. In Florida, the Division of Historical Resources within the Florida Department of State is responsible for conducting these historic preservation programs, and has joined this national effort to recognize and celebrate the impact of the National Historic Preservation Act. Visit flheritage.com/preservation50 to learn more.